Mechanical cotton picker



Sept. l0, 1929. a. c; HoUGH'roN '1,727,774

MECHANICAL ooTToN PICKER Filed July 14, 1927 4 sheets-sheet .1

attoz wat,

MECHANICAL CTTON PICKER l SePt- 10, 1929- B. c. HouGHroN 1,727,774

MECHANICAL cfoTToN Proxim A v 'Filed Ju1y'14, 1927 4 sheets-sheet 4TTOKNLY Patented Sept. 10, 1929. f [i unirse Acrricisz'.

BB C. HOUCHTON, or AUsTIN, TEXAS.

MECHANICAL COTTON PICKER.

I Application fue@ muy 14, 1927. serial No. eoaevs.

In the cotton growing districts it is cus- Fig. 4 is a detail view ofthe means for tomary to pick the cotton bells by hand. transferringmotion to the picking mem- This procedure, especially where large bers,amounts of cotton are grown, requires a Fig. 5 is a detail view, partlyin section,

5 large number of hands, and always the work of the picking means withassociated air in- 55 involved in the picking of the cotton is eX- letsfor suction, y tremely heavy and laborious. Because of F ig.y Gis anenlarged view of the picking this fact, and because o t the scarcity andmechanism, f increasingr cost of labor, it has been found Fig. 7 is anend view thereof,

l0 to be desirable to substitute mechanical Fig. 8 is a modification ofthe picking 6o means 'for manual labor. Tocill this demechanism shown inFigs. 6 and 7 f i mand, many types of cotton pickers have Fig. 9 is afragmentary side elevation of been devised, but all of them are open tothe variable speed contro] mechgmjgm, various objections, among whichmay be Referring mOre particularly to the draw- 5 )mentioned awkwmdnegsof Operation, 11I1- ings, it Will l0@ Seen tllatlle yIllLClliIle S 65certainty of performance, costliness of manmade up of a main frame l,constituting' the ufacturing with resulting high market price, Carryingframe fOI' the VaTOUS parts of the excessive weight and considerabledegree of maehlne. The device is mounted on three diiliculty inhandling. wheels, as is evident from the drawings, the

The pregent invention Seeks t0 provide a large wheel 2 servingas thetraction unit of 70 mechanical picker which will be easily opthe`device, the Smell WheelS 16 Carrying the (grated, relatively inexpensivet() manufac- Welgllt 0f the IetrpOliODS Oi: the CleViCG, y ture, andwhich will be positive in its operaand functioning further as will behereintion, leaving a field of cotton cleanly picked. after' described.It will be geen that the The invention embodies a means for pick- Wheelsare arranged similarly to a veloci- 75 ing the cotton which comprises arotary ele- Pede- The Wheel 2 serves as the traction ment adapted toengage the Cotton 13011, comunit and carries a vertical shaft and thebined with suction for conveying the picked DHHOH 2 and 2b, the pinionsprovidingeY @Otten to L Collecting Sack et. the rem 0f the means forvarying the speed o'f travel ot the machine, which sack is supported ona machine. 80 weighing device which 1s adjusted to auto- The m3611111@1S dlWen by 111951115 0f M1 matically trip when a predetermined weightinternal combustion engine 3 of conventional of cotton is collected inthe sack. It is WD@ and 0f Sllffeent power t0 drive themathought thatthe rotary ytype of picker emd lllelilt the ClGSTGd Taf@ 0f SDCl TheGTI.- ployed in the device ot this application, 1116, O1 IHOOT, 3receives its fuel supply H5 which type of picker does not involve anyIOJQH the iflllk OI from any other conenneghing 01' enteng'ling procese?is new in VEHIQH SOUI'CQ. T110 mOOl 3 1.150 (lIlVGS the itself, thisresulting` in the removal of the SNCOH ffln le 0f Standard COSUCOH thefiber of the bou from the Stalk Without function of which is to draw thepicked cot- /10 mutilation oi the fibers. Suction is not used t0nthrough the hollow member, or conduit,

except to convey the picked vcotton to the 17, and to blow this cottonthrough the mem- (felleejnp Seek, Perfectly Clean Cotton is bel l. HJCOth@ llg 10a, WliCll iS lifted. J[O til@ thus assured. weighing device 7.

The invention will be more readily under- Power transmitted from themotor 3 bv i5 Stood by reference t0 the accompanyingmeans ot' thesprocket chain 3fL which passes 5 drawings, in which `over the gear. 13,which drives the wheel 12. Fig'. l is a side elevation ot the machine,The gear is mounted on the shai't l2, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same,f carrying at one extremity the wheel. 30e, m Fig 8 is a detail view ofthe steering dewhile ihe other extremity is niunted a vice, sil' .ilarin every respect to the wheel 'U Cil y no

CID

12, this second wheel beingy designated 12b.

It will be seen that the shaft 12a serves as an axle common to thewheels 12 and 12b and the gear 23. It will be further seen that theoperation of this gear 23 will cause the wheels 1,2 and 12b to move inunison, the wheel 12 operating the suction device 4, while the wheel 12bdrives the picking mechanism, power to these mechanisms beingtransmitted by the chains 3O'Uvand 3() which respectivelyengage theyteeth of the wheels 12 and 12b.

There is also mounted upon the shaft 12EL the gear 23, this opera-ting aworm 23EL secured to the shaft'24. At the end ofthe shaft 211 there issecured the gear 25, which meshing with the gear 26h, rotates the shaft28a which'carries means, such as a pinion, not shown, which impartsrotary motion to a shaft which carries the gears 28 and 29 meshingrespectively with the gears 2EL and 2l] carried by the wheel `l, thepinions 28 and 29 are made to selectively engage the gears 2L and 2brespectively through the operation of the clutch members or levers 27and 29a, the operation of which by the lever 26 will throw the pinions28 and 29 into and out of contactwith thev gea-rs as desired, theengagement depending upon the direction in which'the lever 26 is moved.

'As will be seen from Figures 1 and 9, the change in motive speed of themachine is eected by the operation of the handle 26, the operation ofthe handle causing the registration of pinions ywith the gears 2n and2b, as will be hereinafter described T he handle 26 is in fact theoperating memt ber for a clutch 2,7,Lthis being a bell crank,

there being a pivot connection between the handle 26 and the crank 27,indicated as 27a. The crank arms of the bell crank 27 are convenientlyat rightangles'to each other, normally in substantially horizontal andvertical positions, the horizontal arm terminating in a housing andbeing secured there* in in any convenient manner which will permitsutlicient freedom of motion to permit its being brought into effectiveaction for the manipulation of the pinions through the construction tobe described.

Connected to the crank 27 is a second clutch, or bell crank, 293, theconnection being made at the point 27h. The construction of the crank29SL is similar to that of the crank 27. The horizontal arm of the crank29"L is secured in the housingV 37, similar to the housing 35, theconnection again being in such a manner as will permit free motion ofthe arm within the housing. The housings 35 and 37 are loosely mountedon a shaft 38 so that the shaft 38 may freely rotate therein, the lowerend of said shaft 38 being preferably enlarged as shown at 31 to Aassurevretention in its bearing member, the shaft 38 being carried by thebearing respectively, and are so spaced member 39 rigidly secured to thestandard 8. lt will be understood that the shaft 38 is in effect acontinuation of shaft 28a, rotary motion from the shaft 28a beingimparted to the shaft 38 through the gear 26a.

Carried by the shaft 38 are thefpinions 28 and 29, abutting the housings35 and 37, respectively. These pinions 28 and 29 are adapted to meshwith the gears 2LL and 2b, that they will engage their gearssuccessively as they are lifted into position by operation of the handle26, the action of this handle being communicated to the gears throughthe clutches, or cranks, 27l and 27". For example, to propel the entiremachine the handle 26 will be pulled up by the operator, bringing thepinion 29 into engagement with its gear 2h; and by pulling the handle 26still further upwardly, pinion 28 will mesh with its gear 2fL to eifectchange of speed. The pinions are held in their desired positions by anysuitable means, as, for example, supports, such as are indicated attO,these supports being of any convenient form, readily suggesting itselfto the manufacturer of the device. A convenient form, for example, isfor member l0 to be in the form of a bar, and notched suitably to serveto hold in place the clutch mechanism.

rilhe numeral 33 represents the axle of the wheel 2, and a bearing 34may be provider for the shaft 28a. rlhe housing for the shaft 28 isdesignated as 36, this member being largely optional except in so far asit conters protection and serves as a head for the frame 1.

1t will thus be seen that motion is imparted to the wheel 2 by the motor3, the wheel 2 serving as the traction unit. lie machine is steeredbymeans of the members 15 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, vthe members 15 beingpivoted at 15 to the frame 1, there being a portion 15b integral withthe members 15, the member 15b being bent upwardly at its end to formatongue adapted to fit into` a slot in the member 15d. This member 15d issecured to the end of the portion of the frame' carrying the wheel 2. Asfurther shown in Fig. 3 when one of the arms 15 engages an obstructionsuch' as a cotton plant, the members 15 will be deflected and the motionis transmitted to the member 15d and lll thus to the wheel 2, so thatthe wheel 2 will 1 be always kept in a substantially predetermined pathbetween the rows of plants between which the wheel 2 is traveling, thewheels 16 being spaced properly between the rows between which the wheel2 is moving. A

As before mentioned, the chain 30 drives a gear or worm 11, which mesheswith a differential driving mechanism comprising the gear 21 operatingthe members 21a and 21b as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Each of thesemembers 21"L and 21b rotates a shaft 22 which in turn operates thepicking mechanism. This picking mechanism comprises the rollers 2O and20a. As shown on' Fig. 7, one ot' these rollers is rotative, by virtueof the motion :trom the shaft 22, while the second roller 2O is adaptedto rotate in the opposite direction through kitrictional en gagementwith cottonr iber engaged 'with the roller 20a. The rollers are mountedwithin an open protective housing 19, and the roller 20 is so mountedthat it may be laterally displaced in the said housing by the provisionof the projection 2Oc at each nd of the roller loosely fitting into theslot 2Od in the housing 19. An eccentric 19b is provided with a slotregistering with the slot 2Od et' the housing, the position of theeccentric being adjustable, the eccentric being held in position by thespring 20e. It will thus be seen that the frictionalengagement oi' therollers 2O and 20CL causes the rollers to rotate in opposite directions,and the engagement between the rollers is yielding to adapt the relativeposition of the rollers to the cotton bolls passing between the rollers,the amount ol displacement or' the roller 2O being determined by theposition 01"' the eccentric ,201. Thus a iirm grip on any boll is alwaysassured.

modification of this arrangement may be had as illustrated in F ig. 8,wherein both rollers may be operated by means of shafts 22 and 22bexactly as has been just described. ln such an instance the relativeposition of the rollers may be determined by the tension ot a spring 2Ocpositioned at each end ot the housing as shown Fig. 8. lt will thus beseen that a boll of cotton will be grasped by the rollers, pulled fromthe stalk and passed back into the housing because of the relation ofthe rollers. l/Vhen the cotton passes back into the housing it istransferred to the weighing bag as will now be described.

Adjacent the roller, the housing 19 is provided. with a. plurality ofapertures 19, the purpose of ywhich will be hereinafter broughtout. Thehousing 19 opens into the hollow shalt 17 which is provided withflexible joints, or elbows, as shown at 18 and 18a (Figs. 1 and 2), sothat the angular position olf the shaft 17 may be adjusted to bring therollers to varying heights during their operation. The shape of thebeveled gears 211L and 21b permits the adjustment ot the rotary shafts22 to take position cor responding to the desired elevation oit themember 17, the desired adjustment being made without breaking theContact between the gears 21"L and 21b with the gear 21. The n'ieinber17 serves as a conduit for the picked cotton and leads into the suctionend of a blower L1 ol' standard construction, the exit of the conduit 17being the portion-4%L oli' ythe blower adapted to discharge the cottoninto a sack placed upon the weighing device. It will be seen that thereis provided an unbroken conduit 17 leading from 'the pickers anddischarging into the collecting and weighing sack. rlheblower l isactuated by the belt 30 which lits over the teeth of the wheel 12, thebelt 30a. also engaging with the teeth of the sprocket lll secured tothe driving shait't of the blower l. Power is thereby transmitted to theblo* l from the motor 3, as will be apparent 'from ll 1 and 2, so thatthe cottonengaged by the rollers 2O will be 'drawn with speed andfacility through the conduit 17 and discharged into the bag 10u, theblower limparting a strong suction through the conduit 17, the suctionbeingintensilied by 'the provision el the apertures 191L in the housing19, these apertures providing for the access of an abundant supply oitair to the housing and conduit. y

This bag 10 is held in receiving position on the weighing device 7, asshown in il 1, the trame in which the bag rests being supported upon theknife `edge 7a, so that as the cotton lille lthe bag the frame Z willtilt until it eng A n ber 6C is pivotally supported` upon ya knife edge31 secured tothe frame 1 and is joined to a member (la pivoted totheframe 1, the

joining member being the portion 6b. The member 6b is pivotallyconnected at with the member 6C, and at Gil with the member t lt willthus be seen that the members G, G" and 6F constitute a ycompound lever,the arm 6a of which carries a weight ol any desired value, this valuebeing determined by the kamount ot cotton desired to be weighed in thebag. @r the weight 6 may be i'uovable along the arm t2, which must thenbe graduated into succcssiver values to 4give any desired weight of thebag and contents, aswill be apparent and as is well. known. When thedesired 'amount ol cotton .is received in the bag, the eliect ofk the wey it t5 will be counteracted and the arm 6C u ll be depressed until itrest-sagainst- 'the iframe 1 as will be apparent from F 1. lt will thusbe seen that'a constant amount of ycotton may be weighed into each bagand the weighing ot each bag proceeds autrnnatically, the removal o1alilled sack and the insertion of an empty sack being speedilyaccon'iplished as soon as the arm t3@ is Lhrown, so that the pickingoperation need not be interrupted during a material time interval. Asupply oit' sacks may be liept in readiness on the platform 10 as shownin Fig. 1. y f

llihile the steering of the machine as it passes between the rows ofplants has been described before, it ymay, here be reviewed and pointedout anew that the trac-tion wheel 2 is maintained in a substantiallystraight ges the member Se. rlhis inem ico course along the rows ofplants by means oi the guiding arms 15. Further steering of the machinemay be veffected by providing means such as standard 9, as shown in Fig.1, the standard being connected Withthe shaft connecting the Wheels 16.To Jiacilitate the steering, means such as a rope or cable 9a, may beattached to the standard 9, the position of Which may be changed byapplying a pull to the rope or cable 9a. rlhere are also standards 9",as shown in Figs. l and 2, the rope 9" being guided against thesestandards by the members 9 through which the rope 9 passes. There may beprovided such a rope and standard on each side ot the machine, and thestandards may be connected With a yoke as shown in Fig. 2. rihe ropesthen pass to the steering means of the Wheels 16, the said ropes beingconnected to the arms 1Gb which are pivoted to the shaft 16a connectingthe Wheels 16, and to the shaft 16C, there resulting a movableconnection between these members. A pull on either rope will betransmitted to the respective Wheel 16, the position ot' which Will bechanged through the turning ot shaft 16a. rlihe section shaft 22 may beconveniently held in position by the straps or cleats 22a.

lt Will be understood tnat it is desired to comprehend Within the scopeci the invention` such modifications and changes as may be necessary toadapt it to varying conditions and uses.

lWhat is claimed is:

l. A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with a trame,of picking means, a conduit associated with the picking means adapted toconvey picked cotton to a collecting point, means permitting the flexingot the said conduit in any desired predetermined position, and powermeans adapted to propel the picker in a plurality of desir dpredetermined motive speeds.

2. A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with a trame,of driving units mounted upon the trame, a picking head, co-acting`picking rollers Within the head adapted to be actuated through the saiddriving units, means actuated by the driving units for operating thesaidy rollers, and a clutch actuated multi-speed propelling meansadapted to propel the picker ina selected predetermined motive speed.`

3. A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with'a trame,ot a source ot' power, driving units actuated by the source of powermounted upon the frame, a picking'head, aicking rollers Within the head,rotary means actuated by the driving units tor actuating the saidrollers, and traction means actuated by the driving units and adapted topropel the pickerin a selected one ot a plurality of predeterminedspeeds.

4k A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with a Jframe,of a yconduit carried by the Jframe, a picking head, relatively smoothpicking rollers Within the head, the said head communicating with theconduit, a source of power, driving units actuated by the source ofpower, rotary means driven by the driving units for actuating the saidrollers, a Jfan in the conduit, means operated yby the said drivingunits ioroperating the said fan, and clutch controlled traction meansactuated by the said driving units adapted to propel the picker at aselected one of a plurality oi predetermined speeds.

5. A. mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination With a trame,oi a conduit carried by the trame, a picking head communicating with theconduit, cooperating smooth surfaced picking rollers in the pickinghead, means for actuating the said rollers, a fan in the said conduit,means for actuating the tan, a source of power carried by the trame,traction means adapted to propel the picker in a selected one of aplurality oi predetermined speeds, and a common driving means actuatedby the source of power for the picker, roller actuating means, fanactuating means and traction means.

6. A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination With a frame,of a conduit carried by the trame, a picking head conimunicating withthe conduit, means tor actuating the said rollers, a fan in the saidconduit, means for actuating the fan, a motor carried by the frame, andcommon driving means actuated by the motor for operating the picker,roller actuating means, and Jfan actuating means.

7. A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with a frame,of a motor carried byy the frame, an exhaust conduit mounted upon theframe, suction means Within the conduit, a picking head communicatingwith the said conduit, picking means Within the said head, means foractuating the picking means, means for actuating the suction means,multi-speed traction means adapted to propel the picker at any selectedone of a plurality of predetermined speeds, and Vcommon driving meansactuated by the motor for the driving of the traction means and all ofthek aforesaid actuating means.

8. A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with a trame,of a motor carried by the frame, propelling means for the picker drivenby the said motor, a flexible conduit carried by the ira-me, a pickinghead communicating with the conduit, picking means Within the head,means for actuating the ysaid picking means, a suction tan Within theconduit to produce a suction therethrough, common means actuated by themotor for driving the picking actuating means, the fan, and thepropellingmeans for thepicker, and clutch controlled means perlll)mitting the operation of the picker propelling means at a selected oneof a plurality of predetermined speeds.

9. i mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with a trame,ot a motor mounted on the trame, traction means for propeling the pickercarried by the trame, a liexible conduit carried by the trame, a headcommunicating with the conuit` picking; rollers in the picking head, thesaid picking head being; provided with apertures adjacent the rollers,an exhaust tan in the conduit, common driving` means actuated by themotor tor actuating' the said rollers, tan and traction means, and meansiounted on the traction means for propelling; the picker at a selectedone of a plurality of predetermined speeds.

1t). il. meel anical cotton picker comprisin@ the cou'il'iination with asupporting' trame, oft a `source opower connected therewithv` a tractionwheel operated by the source oi.t power, the said wheel being` providedwith means for effecting variation in the motive speed ot the machine,

11. A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with asupporting iframe, of a source of power connected therewith, a tractionwheel operated by the source of power, a standard carrying the saidwheel, power transmitting` means passing through the standard to thewheel, a plurality ot' pinions carried on the wheel, and clutchmechanism adapted to vary the speed ot' the i picker.

12. [i mechanical cotton picker comprisinc the oi'ubination with asupporting` trame, of source of power connected therewith, a tractionwheel operated by the source of power and clutch and pinion meansassociated with the wheel for varying the motive speed of the machine.

13. A mechanical cotton picker comprising; the combination with asupportingframe ot a source ot motive power for the picker carried bythe frame, picking` means operative from the said source ot power, atici;- ible exhaust conduit communicating with the picking means, a fanin the said conduit operative from the said source ot' power' andadapted to convey picked cotton from the picking means to an exhausttherefor, and means upon the frame tor carrying a supply of receptaclesto receive the cotton as it issues from the exhaust.y

1&1. A mechanical cotton. picker comprising; the combination with asupporting trame, ot a source ot motive power for the picker carried bythe trame, picking means operative from the said source of power, aflexible exhaust conduit communieatingwith the picking means, a fan inthe said conduit operative from the said source of power and adapted toconvey picked cotton trom the picking` means to an exhaust there- "duit,and means operated by ythe saidv source* and a supporting ytraine, ot' asource et power connected therewith, a ltraction wheel actuated by thesaid source ol power and adapted to propel 4the picker, and guiderymeans carried by the wheel, the said guide means being adapted tomaintain the said wheel in a predetermined' path between ad- Jacent rowsol' plants through Contact with ythe said plants of the said adjacentrows.

16. A ymechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with a supporting` traine and rpickiine; elements carried thereby, ot source ofpower carried by the trame, a

`traction kwheel. actuated by', the source yot )ower and ada )ted to 3ro)el the )icker guide means carried by the wheel and' `f adapted tomaintain the wheel in a predetermined path, and supporting y ried'by theframe4 and adapted to readily follow the course set by thetractionwheel.

17. A mechanical cotton picker compris# ing' the con'ibination with asupportingn il ame and picking elements carried thereby, of a vsource etpower carried by the trai-naa traction wheel actuated bythe source oitpower and adapted to propel the picker, the said traction wheel beingmountedfadjacent one end of the trame, guidemeaus mounted on the wheeland adapted tofm'aintain' the wheel in a predetermined path, andsupporting wheelsfpivotally mounted adjacent the f other end of thetrame and adapted to be readily adjusted to" the course set by thetraction wheel. f 18. A mechanical cotton picker comprising thecombination with a trame, ot a motor carried by the trame.v an exhaustconduit mounted upon ,the frame, suction means within the conduit, apicking head communieating with the said conduit, 'picking means withinthe said head, means for actuating.;` the picking means, means iteractuating; the suction means, a multi-speed traction wheel mountedadjacent oneyend ot the trame and adapted to propel the picker at anyselected one of a plurality oit' 'predetermined speeds, common drivingmeans actuated by the motor for the driving of the traction means andall of the atoresaid'actuating means, guides carried by the tractionwheel and adapted to maintain the wheel in a predetermined' path, andsupport wheels mounted adjacent the other end of the frame and adaptedto be readily adjusted to the course set by the traction wheel.

wheels carlOO 19. A'mechanical cotton picker comprising the combinationwith a supporting frame, of a motor carried by the frame, a tract-ionwheel actuated by the source of power and adapted to propel the picker,means for selectively Varying the speedkof the traction wheel, guidemeans carried by the wheel and adapted lto maintain the wheel inapredetermined path, and support-- ing wheels carried by the frame andadapted to `loe readily adjusted tothe course set by vthe tractionwheels. Y

20. A mechanical cotton picker comprising the combination with a. frame,of a source of power carried by the frame, a propelling wheel for thepicker operated through the said source of power, picking means andconveying means also operated through the said source of power, and

f means for operatinf the propellingwheel at a. selectedr one of aplurality of predetermined speeds, the said means comprising a pluralityof gears carried by the said wheel, a moyable shaft adjacent the wheel,a plurality of pinions mounted upon the shaft and adapted to selectivelyengage the said gears, means comprising` a plurality of levers forpositioning the said pinions and shaft, and means forl imparting rotarymotion to the shaft.

Q1. A mechanical cotton picker comprising ythe combination with a frame,of a source of power carried by the frame, Vpropelling' means for thepicker operated through the said source of power,v picking means andconveying means also operated through the said source of power, andmeans for operating the propelling means at a selected one of aplurality of predetermined speeds, the

.said means comprising a plurality of gears,

a rotatable shaft, a plurality of pinions associated with the gears andcarried by the shaft, a plurality of levers to operate the shaft and toselect-ively'engage the pinions with the gears, andmeans for impartingrotary motion to the shaft and pinions to drive the propelling means.

ln testimonywhereof, I have aixed my signature this 5th day of July,1927.

BOB C. HOUGHTON.

